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(No Model.)

H. M. J-ONES.

ooUPLING LINK.

No. 271.713. Patentedfeb. 6,1883.

N. Pirma vmwumagm c.

UNHED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

HILLIARD M. JONES, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

COPLING-LINK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 271,'713, dated February 6, 1883.

Application filed June 17, 1882. (No model.) v

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HILLIARD M. JONEs, of Stockton,county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented an Im proved Oouplin g- Link; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful coupling-link; and it consists in a metal ring or link with separated ends, in one of which a peculiar latch is pivoted or hinged, the other end of which is adapted to fit into and be secured in a socket in the other end of the link, all of which will hereinafter fully appear.

The object ot' my invention is to provide a convenient, eft'ective, and economical device for coupling any desired number of chains.

My special object in this invention is to adapt it for use in harness in coupling side and fifth chains of the forward team to the fifthchain of the team behind. i Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective. Fig. 2 is a perspective, showin g side, rear, and forward fifth-chains attached. Fig. 3 is an elevation. Fig. 4 is an elevation.

Let A represent a metal ring or link ot' suitable weight and Strength, andof any desired sl1apeelliptical, circular, or otherwise. This .link is not a perfect one, its ends being separated and at some distance apart, as shown. In one 4ot' its ends an aperture, a, is made, in which is pivoted the latch B. This consists of a strong metal bar, the end of which is curved around through aperture a, and embraces the end of the link. The body of this latch is curved, as shown, and is provided With a hook or point, b, the outer face of which has a shoulder, c.

In the other end of the link a socket or aperture, al, is made, the rear wall of which is sloped or beveled from the back upon its inner side forward to its outer side. Its forward wall is sloped from the outer side backward to the inner side.

When the latch B is turned to close the link, its pointed or hooked head slips through the beveled socket and engages With the forward beveled wall, against which it is braced to respring may be changed without aifecting theinvention. The ordinary end links of the chains to be coupled are then slipped upon the link A through the Opening, and the latch is closed and locked, thus securing them.

In order to show its particular adaptation I refer to Fig. 2. v

It is customary, when a heavy load has to be drawn, to couple several teams together. The rear team is harnessed to the Wagon in the usual mannerV and the next team is coupled to the first by means of side chains and a fifthchain, the rear ends of which meet in an ordinary link or ring, which is provided with a hook. This hook engages with the link at the forward end of the fifth'- chain behind. The difficulty with this is that special preparation of these chains -is necessary to weld them withinacommon link,which must be provided wi tha hook. Agaimupon hilly roads-the hook is liable to become unclamped and cause trouble.

E represents the side chains,flE' the rear fifth-chain, and E2 the forward fifth-chain.

1 take first the rear fifth-chain, El, and slip its ordinary end link upon the coupling-link A. Then the side chains are placed in the coupling-link on each side, and finallyr the forward fifth-chain, E2, is placed within it, all having no other formation than the` ordinary links. Then I close the latch B. All the chains are in position upon the coupling-link. The side strain upon the link is resisted by the latch, and the end strain, which has a tendency to elongate the link,is also resisted by said latch, which acts as a brace for the link and prevents it from being drawn out.

Having thns described my invention, what aperture al, and the looking-Spring D, engag- Io I claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters ing` with the shoulder c,snbstantin1ly as hei'ein Patent, is-- described.

The couplingink A, having separated ends, In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand. 5 in one of which :i socket, (o, is formed, and in 1 the other the beveled Socket or aperture a', in HILLIALD M' Johs' combination With the iatch B, hinged or pivicnesscsz oted in the socket a,and having apointorhook, E. J. HOLLENBECK,

b, with a shon1der,c,for fitting in the beveled SILAS MRCH. 

